Clairvaux Abbey

Clairvaux Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in the Grand Est region of France, founded in 1115 by Bernard of Clairvaux. It became one of the most influential Cistercian houses in medieval Europe and played a key role in the order’s expansion.

The complex originally included the abbey church, cloisters, chapter house and monastic buildings typical of Cistercian planning; surviving elements date largely from the 12th and 13th centuries. The abbey’s austere architecture reflects Cistercian ideals and the importance of communal monastic life.

After the French Revolution the monastic community was suppressed and several buildings were secularised; in the 19th century parts of the site were converted for state purposes. The abbey lies in a rural setting in the Aube area of Grand Est, south of major regional centres.

• Founding: Founded as a Cistercian house in the early 12th century by Bernard of Clairvaux and quickly became an influential monastic centre
• Later uses: Structures were repurposed after the French Revolution, and the site was later adapted for state uses in the 19th century

What to See #

• Abbey church and cloisters: The main abbey church and cloister date from the 12th century and formed part of the communal monastic buildings of the Cistercian house